DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — Coach Enrico Blasi and his Miami University hockey team will face a No. 1 seed, the Denver Pioneers, Friday, March 27, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Denver coach George Gwozdecky said he feels like he's facing a No. 1 seed, too.

"You hope for a little more of an advantage when you play a four seed," Gwozdecky said of the RedHawks. "I think they're as good as some one seeds."

"I think they're as good as any team in this tournament, and having a week off may do a world of good for them," he said, noting that it would give time for any RedHawk injuries to heal.

Miami watched from the sidelines last weekend after being eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Tournament while Denver battled to a second-place finish in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Tournament.

Blasi said the RedHawks don't have any major injuries to worry about. Gwozdecky, who guided Denver to back-to-back national championships in 2004 and '05, isn't as fortunate.

Senior defenseman and team captain J.P, Testwuide suffered a leg injury in Denver's last game and alternate captain, Tyler Ruegsegger, one of three players who have scored 15 goals for the Pioneers, already had injured his knee March 13. Gwozdecky said both players are doubtful.

On the other hand, Denver is expected to get last year's leading scorer back. Sophomore forward Tyler Bozak, who has missed the last 21 games with a knee injury, has been given the green light to play by doctors, Gwozdecky said.

"He hasn't been in the lineup since early December," the Denver coach cautioned. "He's got three days to get his conditioning and timing down. If he can go, we're going to play him as much as we possibly can."

The RedHawks have no illusions about the Pioneers.

"They're a great team," Blasi said. "We're going to have to play our best. It's just a matter of going out there and executing."

Miami senior captain Brian Kaufman noted that there will be few secrets concerning the coaching techniques of long-time friends Blasi and Gwozdecky. Blasi played for Gwozdecky at Miami and was an assistant coach under Gwozdecky at Denver.

"Both staffs are going to be prepared for what the other is doing," said Kaufman, who added that he will be playing "pretty much in my back yard, about 15 minutes away from home" for the first time in his college career. His hometown is Shoreview, Minn.

"We feel we have as good a chance as anybody," Kaufman said. "If we can play one of our best games, we like our chances."

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.